Hinges and track engaging roller supports for slidable closures



Sept. 1, 1959 Filed May 13, 1957 E L. STROUP HINGES AND TRACk ENGAGING ROLLER SUPPORTS FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

47/ 4. S/raqa E. L. STROUP 2,902,087 HINGES AND TRACKENGAGING ROLLER SUPPORTS Sept. 1, 1959 FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1957 Sept. 1, 1959 E. 1.. STROUP 2,902,087

HINGES AND TRACK ENGAGING ROLLER.SUPPORTS I FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES Filed May 15. 1957 a SheetsSheet s IN V EN TOR.

far/ A, ff/"az fl' BY @WMQ United States Ptent I-IINGES AND TRACK ENGAGING ROLLER SUPPORTS FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES Earl L. Stroup, Hartford City, Ind., assignor to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind.

Application May 13, 1957, Serial No. 658,629

17 Claims. (Cl. 160209) This invention relates to hinges and roller supports for slidably mounted doors and particularly desirable for doors of the upwardly acting type including a plurality of horizontally hinged sections and associated with tracks having sections rearwardly inclined which are relative to the door frame. The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a combined hinge and roller support for sectional doors of the type including tracks having rearwardly inclined upright portions which provide for variably positioning the track engaging rollers to insure that the door will close against the door frame.

Second, to provide a combined hinge and roller support in which the roller support may be variably positioned relative to the pintle of the hinge, the structure comprising only five parts including the pintle one and in which the parts other than the pintle may be formed of sheet stock.

Third, to provide a combined hinge and pintle support having these advantages which may be readily installed to meet the particular requirements without the aid of tools other than required for attaching the hinge to the hingedly connected parts.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section of an upwardly acting door assembly embodying my invention, parts being mainly shown conventionally, the open position of the door being indicated by dotted lines with the hinges and track supporting rollers omitted.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing the relation of the door and track with the door in closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 4 illustrating details of one of the combined hinge and roller supports and its relation to a pair of door sections hingedly connected thereby.

Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the hinges with the roller support omitted.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the holder member or bracket of the roller spindle support means.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spindle socket member.

Fig. 7 is an edge view showing that the spindle socket member is reversible, variations in the positioning of the spindle socket being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 8-8 of Fig. 9, illustrating details of the roller spindle supporting bracket adapted for use where hinges are not required, as at the upper edge of the top section of the door.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partially in section on i a line corresponding to line 99 of Fig. 8.

2,902,1l87 Patented Sept. 1, 1959 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view partially in section, illustrating a desirable type of track engaging roller.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper sections of the door in open position, illustrating the advantage of the hinge structure in which one of the knuckles is transversely elongated.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding generally to Fig. 2. of an embodiment of my invention in the sheet metal door structure.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary inside view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 12.

In the accompanying drawings 1 represents a door frame and 2 a sill. The door comprises a plurality of horizontally articulated sections including a top section 3, bottom section 4 and intermediate sections 5. The track comprises rearwardly inclined upright sections 9 and horizontal sections it connected by intermediate curved sections 8. These parts are old in the art. My present invention relates primarily to the combined hinges and track engaging roller supports and the brackets for supporting the track engaging rollers at the upper edge of the top section.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a combined hinge and roller spindle support which may be readily adjusted to compensate for the inclination of the track so that the door is held against the door jamb when in closed position. The applicant has pending applications Serial No. 643,862, filed March 4, 1957, now Patent No. 2,877,843, issued March 17, 1959, and Serial No. 613,909, filed October 4, 1956, which disclose structure designed for the same general purpose. The structure of this application, however, has various advantages over the structures disclosed in the said pending applications. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the combined hinge and roller support comprises the leaf hinge members 11 and 12 having coacting hinge knuckles 13 and 14 respectively connected by the pintle 15. The hinge knuckles 13 are somewhat elongated as is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 permitting some lateral movement of one section of the door relative to the adjacent hinged section to which it is hinged. The hinge members 11 and 12 are provided with holes 16 adapted to receive attaching bolts 17. The track engaging rollers 18 are provided with spindles 19. The rollers are preferably rotatably mounted on their spindles, ball bearings being commonly used, but as that detail forms no part of this invention it is not illustrated except as indicated at 20 in Fig. 10.

In order to seat the door against the jamb and to provide clearance on the initial opening movement of the door, the vertical or upright portions 9 of the track are inclined rearwardly or away from the door frame. This necessitates that the roller spindles or shafts be variably spaced relative to the plane of the door. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated this is accomplished by means of the inwardly facing channel shaped holder memher or bracket 21 having parallel side walls 22 and 23 connected by the bight 24. The side walls of the holder member have outturned flanges 25 and 26 respectively. The flange 25 is extended to provide pintle engaging ears 27 disposed at the outer side of the hinge knuckles and pivotally engaging the pintle 15. This pivotal engagement is primarily for the purpose of assembling other parts and to provide an effective support. The side wall member '23 is provided with a downturned flange 231 on its inner edge which is lapped upon the hinge member 12 and secured thereto by one of the attaching bolts 17.

The bight 24 of the holder member or bracket is. provided with a slot 28 and the hinge member 12 has a slot 29 therein aligned with the slot 28. These slots receive the projecting tongues 30 on the inner and outer edges of the spindle socket member 31 when it is arranged within the bracket or holder member 21 in supported relation to the side wall 23 thereof, see Fig. 3, in which position the end edges of the member '21 are in supported en- 'gagement with the hinge member and the bight of the bracket member. The member 31 has a curved offset 32 which coacts with the wall of the holder member 21 against which it is disposed to provide a spindle socket. The socket element 32 is in supported engagement with the wall 22 of the member 2 1 so that the loads ofstr'esses upon the'ro ller spindle 19 are effectively sustained.

The socket member 31 is reversible in the holder thus enabling the supporting of the spindle in two positions.

the roller spindle in eight positions relative to the door.

The hinges and the spindle holders or brackets are'uniform and may be preassembled. If, for example, the door comprises nine sections as is illustrated, only four sets of the socket members 31 are required for the eight hinges and they may be assembled with the hinges and In practice'the socket members 31 are modifiedby varyhighly practical embodiment thereof.

supporting brackets on the job before the fastenings 17 are secured. To assemble, the holder members are swung on the pintles which permits the proper positioning of the proper socket member therein. The holder members or brackets are then swung to position shown in Fig. 3

and the fastener 17 inserted. This simplifies both production and installation of the fasteners.

While one of these hinges could be secured to the top doorsection in non-hinging relation thereto, I preferably provide brackets 34 of inwardly facing channel section having flanges 35 on the sidewalls thereof which are fixedly secured to the top section of the door adjacent the upper edge thereof as by means of the screws 36.

The spindle socket member 37 associated with this bracket 34 is provided with flanges 38 embracing the side edges of the bracket member. These flanges terminate in cars 39 through which the ends of the tubular socket 40 is disposed, the ends of the tubular socket being upset at'41 to retain the same and also the socket member constitutes a reinforcing means and a tie for the flanges of the socket member. The ears 39 overlap the side edges of the holder member so that when the tubular spindle socket is upset thereon the parts. are capable of withstanding heavy stresses although formed of relatively light stock. The tubular socket 40 is a sliding fit between the 1 when the door is fully closed. This" adjustment adds substantial variations in the inclination of the track and such as might occur in installing. The parts may be adjusted after the track is erected to be sure'that the door seats against the jamb when in fully closed position. The spindle'46 of the bottom roller is carried by brackets'45 secured to the bottom section 4 of the door so that the spindle is disposed closely adjacent to the sill when the door is fully closed. In Fig. 4 I illustrate theleaves of the hinge without the'spindle holder and they maybe used where it is desirable to provide the doors withintennediate hinges.

It will be noted that when the door is in fully closed position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,'the track 'engag ing rollers at the upper edge of the top door section are 111 engagement with the curved portion 8. of the track, the purpose of that being to swing the upper edge of the door against the door frame. Quite commonly the section 10 of the track is straight.

The transverse elongating of the knuckles 13 permits tilting movement'of the section 3 relative to the adjacent door section 5, as is illustrated in Fig. 11, and this angular or tilting movement does'not subject the hinge or other parts to undue strain. It also relieves the hinges of strain as they travel around the curved part 8 of the track.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in a door structure in which the door sections are formed of sheet metal and comprise outer and inner panels 50 and '51 respectively, the outer panel 50 being conformed to provide top and-bottom rails 52'and 53 respectively to which the inner'panel 51 is secured at 54, desirably by spot Welding. The inner panels have integral knuckles '55 on their upper edges and '56 on their lower edges, the knuckles '56 being desirably elongated in the plane parallel to the plane of the door section, these elongated knuckles corresponding to the knuckles 13 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive.

The supportsfor the spindles 19 of the track engaging "rollers IS-are thesani'eas when adjapted'to wood door sections except that'the inner'pa'n'els are provided with threaded studs 57 'adaptedto'receive the retaining nuts 53.

I have illustrated and described "my invention ha I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations "or embodiments whichI contemplatefasd believe this "dis- *elosurewill'enable those skilled in the 'art to embody or adapt my invention'as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, whatis'c'laimed as new and desired] to be secured byLetters'Patentds:

1. A combined hinge and"ro1ler spindle'supportfor "upwardlyacting doors of the type 'including a plurality of horizontallydisp'osed'sectio'ns and'tracks including "upright sections inclined rearwardly'relative to the door frame, the"hinge"cornprising a pair of'leaf "hingemembers provided with knuckles and a coac'ting pintle, the knuckleof'one'hinge'memb'er being transversely elongatedto permit limited movement thereof relative to'the pintle, the other hinge member having a slot therein spaced from the pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parall'el side walls, one side wall beingpivotally engaged with the pintle and the other having an outturned flange disposed upon and secured to the'hinge member having the said slot therein, the bight of said holder member being provided with a slot aligned with said sl'ot' in said hinge member, a plate-like spindle socket member disposed within said holder member against the wall thereofhaving said flange andprovided with tongues retainingly engaged in said slot in said hinge member and in the bight of said holder member when said holder member flange is secured to said slotted hinge member with the end edges of said socket member in supported engagement with said hinge member and the bight of said holder member, said socket member having a spindle receiving oifset therein coacting with the wall against 'which it is disposed to providea spindle socket, and a track engaging roller provided withha spindle disposed said socket. 2. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including a plurality ofhorizontally disposedsections' and tracks including upright sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, the hinge comprising a pair of leaf hinge-members provided with knuckles and a coacting pintle, "one hingemember having a slot therein spaced from the pintle, a rollerspindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parallel side walls, one side wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other being secured to the hinge memberhaving the slot therein, thebight of said holder member being provided witha'slot aligned with said slot'in said hinge member, a platedikespindle-socket member disposed within said holder-member againstone wall thereof and provided with tongues retaininglyi engaged in said slot in said hinge member and in the bight of said holder member when said holder member is secured to said slotted hinge member with the end edges of said socket member in supported engagement with said hinge member and the bight of said holder member, said socket member having a spindle receiving offset therein coacting with the wall against which it is disposed to provide a spindle socket, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

3. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including a plurality of horizontally disposed sections and tracks including upright sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, the hinge comprising a pair of leaf hinge members provided with knuckles and a coacting pintle, one hinge member having a slot therein spaced from the pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parallel side Walls, one side wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other being secured to the hinge member having the slot therein, the bight of said holder memher being provided with a slot aligned with said slot in said hinge member, a plate-like spindle socket member disposed within said holder member against one wall thereof and provided with tongues retainingly engaged .in said slot in said hinge member and in the bight of said holder member when said holder member is secured to said slotted hinge member with the end edges of said socket member in supported engagement with said hinge member and the bight of said holder member, said socket member having a spindle receiving oflset therein coacting with the wall against which it is disposed to provide a spindle socket, the offset being in supported engagement with the other wall of the holder member, said socket member being reversibly positionable in said holder member, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

4. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including a plurality of horizontally disposed sections and tracks including up right sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, the hinge comprising a pair of hinge members and a coacting pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parallel side walls, one side wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other detachably connected to one of the hinge members, a plate-like spindle socket member disposed Within said holder member against one wall thereof in retaining engagement with the bight of said holder member and the hinge member to which the holder member is detachably secured, said socket member having a spindle receiving offset therein coacting with the wall against which it is disposed to provide a spindle socket, the offset being in supported engagement with the other Wall of the holder member, said socket member being reversibly positionable in said holder member, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

5. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including a plurality of horizontally disposed sections and tracks including upright sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, the hinge comprising a pair of hinge members and a coacting pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parallel side walls, one side wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other connected to one of the hingle members, a plate-like spindle socket member disposed within said holder member against one wall thereof in retaining engagement with the holder member, said socket member having a spindle receiving offset therein coacting with the well against which it is disposed to provide a spindle socket, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

.6. A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising a pair of binge members and a coacting pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section, one wall of which is pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other, secured to one hinge member to swing therewith, aplate-like spindle socket member disposed within said holder member against one wall thereof and retainingly engaged with the bight of said holder member and the hinge member to which the holder member is secured, said socket member having an offset therein constituting a spindle receiving socket therein disposed in supported engagement with the other wall of the holder member, said socket member being reversibly positionable in said holder member, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

7. A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising a pair of hinge members and a coacting pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section, one Wall of which is pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other secured to one hinge member to swing therewith, a plate-like spindle socket member disposed within said holder member against one wall thereof and retainingly engaged with the bight of said holder member and the hinge member to which the holder member is secured, said socket member having an olfset therein constituting a spindle receiving socket therein, said socket member being reversibly positionable in said holder member, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

8. A roller support for track supported sliding doors comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having outturned attaching flanges on its side walls, a longitudinally slotted spindle socket member disposed within said holder member and provided with flanges on its side edges embracing the side edges of one wall of said holder member, said side flanges of said spindle socket member being extended outwardly into spindle socket ears which supportedly engage the edges of both side walls of said holder member, a tubular spindle socket disposed through said ears and retainingly upset on the outer sides thereof, said spindle socket being in laterally supported engagement with the walls of said holder member, a clamping bolt disposed through said slot in said socket member and one of the side walls of the holder member for clampingly securing said socket member in its adjusted position, and a track engaging roller provided with a spindle disposed in said socket.

9. A roller support for track supported sliding doors comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having outturned attaching flanges on its side walls, a longitudinally slotted spindle socket member disposed within said holder member and provided with flanges on its side edges embracing the side edges of one wall of said holder member, said side flanges of said spindle socket member being extended outwardly into spindle socket ears which supportedly engage the edges of both side walls of said holder member, a tubular spindle socket disposed through said ears and retainingly upset on the outer sides thereof, said spindle socket being in laterally supported engagement with the walls of said holder member, a clamping bolt disposed through said slot in said socket member and one of the side walls of the holder member for clampingly securing said socket member in its adjusted position.

10. A roller support for track supported sliding doors comprising a holder member having spaced side walls, a longitudinally slotted spindle socket member disposed within said holder member and provided with flanges on its side edges embracing one side wall of said holder member and having spindle socket ears which supportedly engage the edges of both side Walls of said holder member, a tubular spindle socket member disposed through said ears and secured therein in laterally supported engagement with the Walls of said holder member, and a clamping bolt disposed through said -.slot in said socket member and one of the side walls of the holder member forsecuring saidsocket memberlin its adjusted position. .l l .Arollersupport for track supported sliding doors comprising a holder member having spaced side walls, a longitudinally slotted. spindle socket member disposed within said holder 'member and having spindle socket cars which, supportedly engage the edges of both side walls of said holder member,.a tubular spindle socket member disposedthrough said ears-and secured'therein in laterally supported engagement with the Walls of said holder memher, and a clamping bolt disposed through said slot in said socket member and one of .the side walls of the holder member for securing said socket member in its adjusted position.

.12 A roller support for tracksupported sliding doors comprising a holder member adapted tobe fixedly secured to a doorand having spaced side walls, a longitudinally slotted spindle socket member disposed within saidv holder member and provided with .flanges on its side edges embracing atleast one side wall of said holder member, a spindle socket mounted on said socket member in laterally supported engagement with the walls of said holder member and a .clamping bolt disposed through said slot in said socket member and one of the side walls of the holder member for clampingly securing said socket member in its adjusted position within said holder member.

.13. A roller support for track supported sliding doors comprising a holder member adapted to be secured to a door and having spaced side walls, a spindle socket member disposed within said holder member for adjustment longitudinally thereof, and provided with flanges on its side edges embracing one side wall of said holder member and having spindle socket ears in supported engagement with the edges of both side Walls of the holder member, a tubular spindle socket mounted between and in said earsin lateral supported engagement with the side walls of the holder, and means for securing said socket member in its adjusted position within said holder member.

14. A sectional door comprising a plurality of sections, each section including inner panels of sheet stock having longitudinally extending inwardly projecting hinge knuckle members on their longitudinal edges formed integrally therewith, the knuckle members on the adjacent edges of adjacent sections being in axial interlapping end thrust sustaining relation to each other, and a pintle coacting with the-coacting knuckle members, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member having spaced walls,

one wall being supportedly engaged with the pintle, the other wall being secured to the inner panel of one of the pair of door sections to swing therewith, and a spindle socket member disposed within said holder member.

15. A sectional door comprising a plurality of sections, each section including inner panels of sheet stock hav ing longitudinally extending inwardly projecting hinge knuckle members on their longitudinal edges formed integrally therewith, theknuckle members on. the adjacent edges-of an adjacent pair of sections being in axial in terlappingend thrust sustaining relation to each other, a pintle coacting with the .coacting knuckle members, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member having spaced walls, one Wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and-the other havinga flange lapped upon and secured to the inner panel of one of the pair to swing therewith, and a spindle socket member disposed within said holder member.

16. A sectional door comprising a plurality of sections, each section including inner panels of sheet stock having longitudinally extending inwardly projecting hinge knuckle members on their longitudinal edges formed integrally therewith, the knuckle members on the adjacent edges of an adjacent pair of sections being in axial interlapping end thrust sustaining relation to each. other, a pintle coacting with the coacting knuckle members, a roller spindle support comprising a holder memberpivotally engaged with the pintle and secured to the inner panel of one of the pair to swing therewith, and a spindle socket member disposed within said holder member.

17. A combinedhinge and roller support comprising a pair of hinge members and a coacting pintle, a roller spindle support comprising a holder member of inwardly facing channel section having parallel side walls and an outer .end wall, one side Wall being pivotally engaged with the pintle and the other secured to one hinge member to swing therewith but disengageable therefrom, a spindle socket member reversibly positioned within said holder member in supported engagement with the side walls and. with the outer end wall of the holder member and with the hinge member to 'Which the holder member is attached, said spindle supported member having a concentrically positioned spindle receiving socket therein,

whereby the spindle socket may be variably spaced relative to the pintle by the selective positioning of the spindle socket member in the ,holder member, and a track engaging .roller provided with a spindle disposed within said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,013,945 McCloud Jan. 9, 1912 1,707,287 Sudzhi Apr. 2, 1929 2,525,309 Norberg Oct. 10, 1950 2,557,753 Mitchell June 19, 1951 2,645,807 McKee et al. July 21, 1953 2,805,661 Pollock Sept. 10, 1957 

